© 2026
NPR News, Colorado Stories
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
In the NoCo

This Colorado company turned its frightening Halloween creations into a thriving business. Here's how

two men airbrush paint on a series of monster torsos lined up on long metal tables
Courtesy Distortions Unlimited

There’s always that person in the neighborhood who takes their Halloween decorations to the next level – with a yard full of monsters, giant skeletons and zombies that look frighteningly real when you walk by.

These kinds of elaborate decorations are the specialty of a Colorado company that’s been in the Halloween business for nearly a half-century.

Distortions Unlimited has been making monsters in Greeley since 1978. What began as a mask-making hobby for founder Ed Edmunds evolved into a company that he runs along with his wife, Marsha. It even led to a starring role in a reality show on the Travel Channel called Making Monsters.

Today they lead a team of nearly 20 people who create uniquely detailed props or animated creatures for movies, professional haunted houses, and theme parks.
Ed and Marsha Edmunds joined host Erin O’Toole to share more about how they did it – and what they love about the business of scaring people for fun.

KUNC's In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, news, people and issues. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show brings context and insight to the stories of the day, often elevating unheard voices in the process. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we celebrate the lighter side of things here, too.
As the host of KUNC’s news program and podcast In The NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation. I love finding the stories and voices that reflect what makes NoCo such an extraordinary place to live.
Brad Turner is an executive producer in KUNC's newsroom. He manages the podcast team that makes In The NoCo, which also airs weekdays in Morning Edition and All Things Considered. His work as a podcaster and journalist has appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition, NPR Music, the PBS Newshour, Colorado Public Radio, MTV Online, the Denver Post, Boulder's Daily Camera, and the Longmont Times-Call.